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Canadiens Prospect Owen Beck Clutch At Memorial Cup

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Canadiens prospect Owen Beck memorial cup

Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck has enjoyed a rather wild ride since the OHL playoffs started.

Not only did the Peterborough Petes, who finished the regular season with just 74 points, eliminate the league-leading Ottawa 67’s and the powerhouse London Knights to capture the OHL Championship, but thanks to their never-say-die attitude, they managed to once again avoid elimination at the Memorial Cup.

Before we get into the game details, which include a fantastic drive to the net by Beck to set up the game-winning goal, I’d like to once again take to my soapbox to discuss the entertainment value provided by Junior hockey.

I’ll keep it short, this time, I promise.

However, in exchange for not rambling at length about the unmatched excitement you’ll witness during most games, I need you to make an honest effort to catch a Junior hockey game at your local rink.

It’s easily the best bang for your hard-earned buck available when it comes to hockey.

You won’t be disappointed.

Beck Plays The Hero

The tie-break game between the Petes and the Kamloops Blazers featured everything you look for in a hockey game.

There were dramatic goals, great saves, momentum swings, big hits, and for those who partake in the sweet science, a rather nasty knock-out punch by New Jersey Devils prospect Chase Stillman.

Despite allowing the Petes to score first, the Blazers quickly took control of the game by scoring four answered goals. As exciting as Peterborough’s Cinderella run had been, it seemed inevitable that their fun had come to an end.

They needed a little magic.

And they got it from New York Rangers prospect Brendan Othmann, who cut the lead to 4-2 thanks to a fantastic individual effort midway through the second period. Peterborough then quickly tied the game following goals from Samuel Mayer and Brian Zanetti.

Both teams played a very safe style of play in the third period, giving the Petes, who have now played a total of 96 games this season, an opportunity to play the underdog role to perfection once again.

And that’s where Beck, who had been quiet up to that point, took matters into his own hands.

The cerebral Canadiens prospect cut through the neutral zone, using his speed and positioning to open up a lane toward the net.

Everyone in the building expected Beck to shoot, which would have been a reasonable decision considering he was in a high-danger shooting area.

But Beck, who had drawn the attention of both Blazers defencemen, knew his teammate, JR Avon, had plenty of time and space to take a shot that had a better chance of fooling Dylan Ernst.

It was a play that combined offensive awareness, great skating, vision, and anticipation, which is exactly what we’ve come to expect from an intelligent prospect such as Beck.

On The Docket

Beck’s heroics have set up a Canadiens prospect vs. Canadiens prospect semifinal at the Memorial Cup.

The Petes, who seem to have been blessed by hockey gods, will face Jared Davidson and the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday.

The puck drop for this must-see event is scheduled for 10 PM ET.